Platypus and other sightings at a bridge
A few weeks back the members of COG who went on a walk in the Molonglo Gorge spotted a platypus swimming around in the river. I reported this to the platypus watch project run by that organisation. The Coordinator was kind enough to respond with a copy of their newsletter (see the Ripples link in the sidebar) which showed an astonishing - to me at any rate - number of sightings in the Queanbeyan River.
I shared this with members of COG, one of whom went for a prowl around the Queanbeyan river. He reported seeing at least one, and probably 2, swimming around near a footbridge. As shown by the 'HERE' in the image, this is right in the middle of the town!
I mentioned this to the Coordinator of the Molonglo Catchment Group's Waterwatch program and he responded that he had seen platypus when doing sampling around the weir (also marked in the image). It is apparently rumoured that one can watch the charming creatures while having a beer at the Leagues Club about halfway between the two sites.
So on 24 August I took myself off to the bridge to see what could be seen. In short, platypus could be seen swimming around near the bank. I hadn't really expected this so didn't have my camera with me.
On 10 September I went back with camera, and small dog. My reasoning was that the small dog deserved an outing and would be well out of risk (to the 'pus) being on a bridge about 10m above the River. I got two great views of a platypus swimming across the River. Due to the amount of sediment currently coming down the stream (it is like the description of the South Platte "too thick to drink, too thin to plough") the 'pus was only visible when right on the surface. unfortunately the small dog needed a little discipline so the snap didn't happen. Next time.
Why did the dog need discipline? It was nothing to do with the platypus - which I don't think hit her radar, but more with other users of the bridge. I should point out that this is a footbridge of the type described in NZ as a swing bridge. So when other punters come across the structure bounces, giving a small dog warning that people are coming .... and they might have a treat for a dog! This generates a level of excitement which might not be appreciated by everyone, so the lead had to be shortened to keep her down. In the 30 minutes that we were there the traffic comprised:
I shared this with members of COG, one of whom went for a prowl around the Queanbeyan river. He reported seeing at least one, and probably 2, swimming around near a footbridge. As shown by the 'HERE' in the image, this is right in the middle of the town!
So on 24 August I took myself off to the bridge to see what could be seen. In short, platypus could be seen swimming around near the bank. I hadn't really expected this so didn't have my camera with me.
On 10 September I went back with camera, and small dog. My reasoning was that the small dog deserved an outing and would be well out of risk (to the 'pus) being on a bridge about 10m above the River. I got two great views of a platypus swimming across the River. Due to the amount of sediment currently coming down the stream (it is like the description of the South Platte "too thick to drink, too thin to plough") the 'pus was only visible when right on the surface. unfortunately the small dog needed a little discipline so the snap didn't happen. Next time.
Why did the dog need discipline? It was nothing to do with the platypus - which I don't think hit her radar, but more with other users of the bridge. I should point out that this is a footbridge of the type described in NZ as a swing bridge. So when other punters come across the structure bounces, giving a small dog warning that people are coming .... and they might have a treat for a dog! This generates a level of excitement which might not be appreciated by everyone, so the lead had to be shortened to keep her down. In the 30 minutes that we were there the traffic comprised:
- a gentleman of Southern European appearance with whom only a brief 'g'day' was exchanged;
- a young woman - originally from Manchester UK - who told me, in the course of our conversation, revealing that she was happy to be out of Manchester, that she had seen platypus there, and was appropriately excited about this. She mentioned that she had spoken to another local resident who was well aware of the 'pus presence;
- a group of 4 young blokes in Islamic attire who were busy taking photos of each other crossing the bridge. Since this was about noon on Friday (and it was Eid Il-Fitr) I presume they were on their way to a place of worship. Again only brief greetings.
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